Liquid bleaching and detergent composition

ABSTRACT

A stable concentrated liquid detergent composition comprises (a) at least one anionic detergent of formula RO(CnH2nO)mSO3M wherein R is an alkyl or alkylaryl radical in which the alkyl groups contain 6-18 carbon atoms, M is alkali metal, ammonium or substituted ammonium, n is 2 or 3, and m is 1-8, (b) an alkali metal condensed phosphate, suitably in an amount of 5-30% by weight of the composition, particularly sodium pyro- and/or tripoly-phosphate, and (c) a carboxymethylcellulose soil suspending agent, preferably sodium carboxymethylcellulose having a degree of substitution of 0.4-1.1. It is preferred that a further anionic detergent (d) be included, for example an alkyl sulphate, an alkylaryl sulphonate, or an acylated hydroxy-or amino-sulphonate, when the weight ratio of (a) to (d) is preferably 1:1 to 1:6; the total of (a) and (d) should be 5-25% by weight of the liquid composition.  1-5% by weight of sodium silicate having a ratio Na2O:SiO2 of 1:3.3 is preferably also included, and sodium carbonate, fatty acid alkanolamide, inorganic salts, optical brighteners, perfume and colour may also be incorporated.

United States Patent O 3,139,164 LIQUID BLEACG AND DETERGENT COMPOlTl0NGeorg Peter Best, Vlaardingen, Netherlands, assignor to Lever Brothers(lompany, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Maine No Drawing. Filed July3, 1959, Ser. No. 824,800 Claims priority, application Great BritainJuly 10, 1958 10 Claims. (Cl. 252-99) This invention relates to liquiddetergent compositions.

Concentrated liquid detergent compositions often suffer from thedisadvantage that one or more of the components separate out duringstanding and/ or that a clear solution is not obtained on dilution tothe lower concenration employed for actual use. Moreover, it has nothitherto been found possible to include a bleaching agent .in aconcentrated liquid detergent composition to give a product which willretain its bleaching activity to an acceptable degree on storage andwhich will therefore compare with the well known solid bleachingdetergent compositions, containing sodium perborate or sodiumpercarbonate, used in certain applications, particularly in the of astable pourable emulsion, suspension, or coacervate' which contains (a)at least one anionic active detergent A of the general formula:

RO.(C,,H O) .SO M in which R is an alkyl radical containing from 6 to 18carbon atoms or an alkylaryl radical containing from 6 to 18 carbonatoms in the alkyl radical; M is an alkalimetal, ammonium or substitutedammonium radical, preferably sodium; n is 2 or 3, and m is from 1 to 8,preferably 2 to 4; (b) a condensed phosphate; a soil-suspending agent;and (d) hydrogen peroxide.

Preferably the composition of the invention contains a mixture ofdetergents A of the general formula given, in which the average value ofm is at least 2 and is preferably from 2 to 4. Particularly suitable arethe sodium salts of sulphated polyethyleneglycol mono-alkyl ethers ofthe general formula RO.(C H O) .SO Na, in which R is an alkyl radicalwith 6 to 12 carbon atoms and m is from 2 to 3, or R is an alkyl radicalwith 12 to 18 carbon atoms and m is from 3 to 4.

It has been found that these novel bleaching detergent compositions areremarkably stable with respect to loss of bleaching activity on storage.Their stability can be further enhanced if a stabilizer for hydrogenperoxide is included.

Preferred detergents of type A described above include the sodium saltof sulphated diethyleneglycol monolauryl ether, C H CH .O(C H O) .SO Na;the sodium salt of sulphated diethyleneglycol mono-alkyl ether RO.(C HO) SO Na, in which R denotes a mixture of alkyl radicals as these occurin coconut fatty alcohols, the

ice

sodium salt of sulphated tetraethyleneglycol mono-alkyl ether RO.(C H O)SO Na, in which R denotes a mixture of alkyl radicals as these occur intallow fatty alcohols, and the salt of sulphated tetraethyleneglycolmonononylphenyl ether.

The amount of the condensed phosphates, such as for example sodiumpyrophosphate and/ or sodium tripolyphosphate, is desirably from 5 to30%, preferably from 9 to 25%, by weight of the liquid composition.

The soil-suspending agent may be, for example a carboxymethylcelluloseof any customary degree of substitution, such as 0.4-1.1 carboxymethylgroups per monosaccharide unit, in the conventional small amounts.

The composition preferably contains hydrogen peroxide in an amount of0.5 to 3% by weight of the solution, preferably together with a smallamount of a stabiliser for hydrogen peroxide, such as, for example,sodium p-hydroxybenzoate, sodium nitrilotriacetate or sodiumethylenediamine tetra-acetate.

In addition to the active detergent A, there is preferably also includedanother anionic active detergent B, which is not of the general formulagiven earlier for A. B may for example be a fatty alkyl sulphate saltwith from 8 to 18, preferably about 12, carbon atoms in the molecule, oran alkylaryl sulphonate with from 8 to 16 carbon atoms in the alkylgroup, preferably an alkylbenzene sulphonate with about 12 carbon atomsin the alkyl group. Salts of acylated hydroxy or amino sulfonic acidsmay also be used.

Preferred detergents of type B include sodium tetrapropylenebenzenesulphonate, sodium dodecylbenzene sulphonate, sodiumpentapropylenebenzene sulphonate, sodium lauryl sulphate and sodiumoleyl sulphate. (The expressions 5tetrapropylenebenzene andpentapropylenebenzene denote alkylbenzenes in which the alkyl groups arederived from propylene tetramer and propylene pentamer, respectively.)

If, as is preferred, a detergent B is present, the weight ratio A:B ispreferably from 1:1 to 1:6, most suitably from 1:2 to 1:4. The activedetergents A and B together suitably form from 5 to 25%, preferably from6 to 20% by weight of the liquid composition.

Other common ingredients of detergent compositions, such as fatty acidmonoor diethanolamides, optical brighteners and inorganic salts otherthan condensed phosphates, may be added, subject to the proviso that thecompositions should not of course contain ingredients which will reactwith hydrogen peroxide or catalyse its decomposition on storage. ,,Inparticular, the compositions should not contain sodium silicate.

In preparing the liquid bleaching and detergent compositions of theinvention, in order to ensure that they do not contain matter that iseasily oxidised by hydrogen peroxide, all the ingredients may besubjected to an o-xidising pretreatment, preferably with hydrogenperoxide. It is, however, preferred to prepare the composition fromuntreated ingredients, using a slight excess of hydrogen peroxide. Ifthe composition is then kept for a few weeks, the excess hydrogenperoxide becomes decomposed, but the remainder is surprisingly resistantto decomposition on prolonged storage. The process of destroying easilyoxidisable matter by oxidation with the excess hydrogen peroxide may bespeeded up so as to o muao 7 L 1 Z 0 L0 0 1 1 F the same 5 1 6:0 n40 0 2&

Example 3 The following compositions were prepared in the same way as inExample 1:

glycol coconut oil-fatty alkyl ether A) Sodium salt of sulphatedtctraethyleneglycol coconut-0il-fattyalkyl other (A).. Sodium salt ofsulphated tetraethyleueglycol nonylphenyl other (A) Sodiumtetrapropylcnebenzene sulphonate (13).. Coconut-oil fatty acidmono-ethanol- Sodium salt of sulphatcd diethylenetake only a few hours,by adding a small amount of an oxidation-promoting compound such as, forexample the benzoyl or acetyl ester of sodium phenol sulphonate, orfatty acid anhydrides, e.g. acetic acid anhydride; or by raising thetemperature. 5

The preparation of the compositions of the invention can be effected byincorporating the ingredients (a), (b) and (c) in water, followed byaddition of hydrogen peroxide. A suitable procedure is as follows:

A minor proportion of the condensed phosphate or 10 phosphates e.g. 10%by weight of the total amount to be added, is mixed with the soilsuspending agent in water at elevated temperature, e.g. 50 to 60 C.After the liquid has become homogeneous, the major part of the condensedphosphate (e.g. 60%) is stirred in at a someg figfwhat highertemperature (e.g. 7080 C.). Subsequent- Sodium fiig l detergent A and,if desired, B, as well as sodium trlpolyphosphate Optical br1gl1te11eracld mono or diethanol amides are added, IIydr0g011per0Xid0 le thetemperature is kept at at least 70 C. The rest of the condensedphosphate is stirred in is then cooled to about 50 lpho-groups (B).

phonate 0.4

The following compositions were prepared way as in Example 1:

lauryl ether (11)..... 2.14 2.14 2.14 Sodium pentapropylenebenzenesulphonate (B) Sodium dodeeylbcnzene sulphonate (13).. Sodium laurylsulphate (B) The following compositions were prepared in the same way asin Example 1.

glycol mouo-lauryl other (A) Sodium salt of sulphatedtetraethyleneglycol nonylphcnyl ether (AL. Salts of a protein-fatty acidcondensate with bound su yl-hexyl sulphate (B).

Benzoyl ester of sodium phenol sul- Water Sodium oleyl sulphate (B) 35Coconut-oil fatty acid monoethanolam1dc Sodium carboxymethy1cel1uloseSodium pyrophosphate Sodium tripolyphosphate. Optical brightencrr Hy*ogen per0xide p-Hydroxybenzoic acid Benzoyl ester of sodium 50 Sodiumsalt of sulphated diethylenc- Sodium eth 55 Laurie acid diethenolamideSodium carboxymethyl cellulose. Sodium pyrophosphate. Sodiumtripolyphosphate Optical brightencrs. Hydrogen pcroxide Waterzand theliquid PP -gin Sodium salt of sulphatod diethyleneglycol C. Hydrogenperoxide in an C. The oxidation promoting and the composition g agentsfor hydrogen peroxide, and colouring substance, are then added. Finallythe liquid is homogenized in a suitable a The compositions of theinvention are general purpose detergent compositions in the form ofstable pourable liquid emulsions, suspensions, or coacervates which haveThe invention will now be illustrated in more detail Water by thefollowing examples:

Example 1 The following compositions were prepared by mixing togetherthe ingredients in the proportions shown, the figlphatedtetraethylcneglycol nonylphenyl other (A) Coconut-oil fatty acidmono-ethanolamide Example 2 The following compositions were prepared inthe same way as in Example 1.

(A) one sulphoexcess of about 5% as compared with the finalconcentration desired in the liquid is added, and the mixture is thenallowed to cool to 40 to the concentrations in which detergentcompositions are normally used (dilutions of from 1:60 to 1:250, in

compound is then added to stand until decomposition of the excesshydrogen peroxide has stopped. Other ingredients, such as o brighteners,perfume, stabilisin a colloid mill.

little tendency to separate out on standing. On dilution particular offrom 1:100 to 1:180, are usual) they become clear liquids.

ures representing percent by weight.

Sodium salt of su Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose Sodium pyrophosphateSodium tripolyphosphate- Optical brightener Hydrogen peroxide.p-Hydroxybenzoic acitL. Acetic acid anhydride. Watcr glycol monolaurylether odium tetrapropylenebeuz nate (B Coeonut il fatty acid monoethanole m n em m n WaW Sodium salt of sulphated diethylenegodiumpyrophosphatmfln Optical brighteuer Hydrogen peroxide.

p-Hydroxybenzoic aci Benzoyl ester of sodium phenol sulpho- 5 "U a m a.t on 0 5.0 2 0 6....0. 1 4 4541705 420 .0 .02 a 2 2 .28 m 095 0 1020 5l 2 3 1765 2 6A2. .020 4 3 1 2 .28 093 l 0 1020 5 1 2 5 5 1765 1 3 e mma 1 0 10 2 0 6 1 0 7 7 78Wo mW Q06 om 7 L 21 2 .L2 0 1010 07 l 4 67578513 20 1 8 1 1 2 L4 2 0 IQLO 0 7 1 4 7 7 78513 296 1 7 1 12 L3 2 010 1 0 0 7 5 99000392 822 4 020 .090 1 .8 .23 l 101 000 08 Thesecompositions, although clear to the eye, in fact show a Tyndall-elfect;that is, they are emulsions, suspensions or coacervates and not truesolutions.

What is claimed is:

1. A liquid bleaching and detergent composition in the form of a stable,pourable dispersion which consists essentially'of water and, by weightof the composition:

(a) of at least one anionic active detergent A of the general formulaRO.(C H O) .SG M, in which R is selected from the group consisting ofalkyl radicals having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms and alkylaryl radicalshaving from 6 to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical; M is selectedfrom the group consisting of alkali metal, ammonium and substitutedammonium radicals; (C H O) is selected from the group consisting of (C HO) and ((3 1-1 0); and m is from 1 to 8;

(b) from about 5 to 30% of a condensed inorganic phosphate;

(0) as a soil-suspending agent, a minor amount of acarboxymethylcellulose having a degree of substitution from 0.4 to 1.1;and

(d) from about 0.5 to 3% of hydrogen peroxide, said anionic activedetergent A being present in such proportions that the compositions arein the form of stable, pourable dispersions which have little tendencyto separate out on standing.

2. A composition according to claim 1, in which the value of m is from 2to 4.

3. A composition according to claim 1 in which the anionic activedetergent A, is the sodium salt of sulphated polyethylene glycolmonoalkyl ether, of the formula R0 (C H O) SO Na, ill which:

R is an alkyl radical with 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and

m is from 2 to 3.

4. A composition according to claim 1 in which the anionic activedetergent A, is the sodium salt of sulphated polyethylene glycolmonalkyl ether, of the formula RO(C H O) SO Na, in which:

R is an alkyl radical with 13 to 18 carbon atoms, and m is from 3 to 4.

5. A composition according to claim 1, which contains a compound fromthe class consisting of sodium p-hydroxy benzoate, sodiumnitrilotriacetate and sodium ethylene diamine tetra acetate, asstabilizer for hydrogen peroxide.

6. A composition according to claim 1, which contains, in addition tothe anionic active detergent A, an anionic active detergent B, from theclass consisting of alkyl sulphate salts containing 8 to 18 carbon atomsin the alkyl group, and alkylaryl sulphonates containing 8 to 16 carbonatoms in the alkyl group.

7. A composition according to claim 6, in which the weight ratio ofactive detergent AzB is from 1:1 to 1:6.

8. A composition according to claim 7, in which the weight ratio AB isfrom 1:2 to 1:4.

9. A composition according to claim 6, in which the total amount ofanionic active detergent is from 5 to 25% by weight of the liquidcomposition.

10. A composition according to claim 6, which contains the followingconstituents in the following percentages by weight of the liquidcomposition:

Detergent A 1.4-3.8 Detergent B 4.7-12.1 Fatty acid monoethanolamide1.0-2.8 Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose 0.3-0.8 Sodium pyrophosphate1.1-2.9 Sodium tripolyphosphate 8.0-18.1 Optical brightener 0.03-0.08Hydrogen peroxide 1.0-2.6 Stabilizer for hydrogen peroxide 0.02-0.06Water to 100.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,155,899 Harris Apr. 25, 1939 2,254,434 Lind et al Sept. 2, 19412,698,302 Sylvester Dec. 28, 1954 2,903,431 Ruff et a1. Sept. 8, 1959FOREIGN PATENTS 783,585 Great Britain Sept. 25, 1957

1. A LIQUID BLEACHING AND DETERGENT COMPOSITION IN THE FORM OF A STABLE,POURABLE DISPERSION WHICH CONSISTS ESSENTIALLY OF WATER AND, BY WEIGHTOF THE COMPOSITION: (A) OF AT LEAST ONE ANIONIC ACTIVE DETERGENT A OFTHE GENERAL FORMULA RO.(RNH2NO)M.SO3M, IN WHICH R IS SELECTED FROM THEGROUP CONSISTING OF ALKYL RADICALS HAVING FROM 6 TO 18 CARBONS ATOMS ANDALKYLARYL RADICALS HAVING FROM 6 TO 18 CARBON ATOMS IN THE ALKYLRADICAL; M IS SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ALKALI METAL,AMMONIUM AND SUBSTITUTED AMMONIUM RADICALS; (CNH2NO) IS SELECTED FROMTHE GROUP CONSISTING OF (C2H4O) AND (C3H6O); AND M IS FROM 1 TO 8; (B)FROM ABOUT 5 TO 30% OF A CONDENSED INORGANIC PHOSPHATE; (C) AS ASOIL-SUSPENDING AGENT, A MINOR AMOUNT OF A CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE HAVINGA DEGREE OF SUBSTITUTION FROM 0.4. TO 1.1; AND (D) FROM ABOUT 0.5 TO 3%OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, SAID ANIONIC ACTIVE DETERGENT A BEING PRESENT INSUCH PROPORTIONS THAT THE COMPOSITIONS ARE IN THE FORM OF STABLE,POURABLE DISPERSIONS WHICH HAVE LITTLE TENDENCY TO SEPARATE OUT ONSTANDING.